Summer international rugby referees announced

World Rugby has announced the 29 referees, assistant referees and 10 TMOs for the 2018 June internationals.

Appointments have been made to 28 matches, including the cross-regional Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifiers between Samoa and the team representing Europe. The panel reflects a strong blend of experience and emerging talent as World Rugby’s Match Officials Selection Committee look towards Rugby World Cup 2019 and beyond.   The appointments also reflect the need for the more familiar, experienced officials to referee the lower ranked RWC sides – the likes of Wayne Barnes, Nigel Owens and Jerome Garces all refereeing Tier 1 v Tier 2 matches. That allows some newer/new names – Andrew Brace, Luke Pearce, Nic Berry and Matthew Carley etc to get top-tier experience.

All bar three of the 24 referees selected for the tests have graduated via the World Rugby U20 Championship.

Following the 2018 Six Nations, a full review has been carried out to ensure alignment in approach to key game areas with an emphasis on rewarding positive play. This included a renewed focus on scrum pre-engagement and crooked feeds, zero-tolerance to closing the gap and contact in the air the lineout, promotion of a fair contest at the tackle/ruck, zero-tolerance of clearing out beyond the tackle/ruck and observing of the offside line at the ruck and from restarts. This approach was endorsed at a workshop with northern and southern hemisphere coaches following the Six Nations and will continue into June.

World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee Chairman Anthony Buchanan said, “We are on track in our mission to reach Rugby World Cup 2019 with the best possible team of in-form match officials who are aligned, consistent and accurate in their decision-making, which was certainly a factor during the recent Six Nations.

“There is no doubt that the match official mini-camps that operate during major championships and windows, coupled with stronger collaboration and dialogue with coaches, is having a positive impact on the way the game is officiated, promoting consistency, accuracy and clarity for all.”

Congratulations to all!

 

South Africa v Wales
RFK Stadium, Washington DC, USA
2 Jun 2018
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
AR1: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
AR2: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)

Australia v Ireland
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
9 Jun 2018
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
AR1: Pascal Gauzere (France)
AR2: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

New Zealand v France
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
9 Jun 2018
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
AR1: Angus Gardner (Australia)
AR2: John Lacey (Ireland)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

South Africa v England
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
9 Jun 2018
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zelaand)
AR1: Romain Poite (France)
AR2: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Argentina v Wales
9 Jun 2018
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
AR1: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
AR2: Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Japan v Italy
9 Jun 2018
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
AR1: Nigel Owens (Wales)
AR2: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

Canada v Scotland
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, AB, Canada
9 Jun 2018
Referee: Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
AR1: George Clancy (Ireland)
AR2: Derek Summers (USA)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

Europe 2 v Samoa (RWCQ)
9 Jun 2018
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
AR1: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
AR2: TBC
TMO: TBC

USA v Russia
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Denver, CO, USA
9 Jun 2018
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
AR1: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
AR2: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)

Tonga v Georgia
ANZ Stadium, Suva, Fiji
9 Jun 2018
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
AR1: Graham Cooper (Australia)
AR2: Cam Stone (New Zealand)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)

Fiji v Romania
ANZ Stadium, Suva, Fiji
9 Jun 2018
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
AR1: Jérôme Garcès (France)
AR2: Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)

Australia v Ireland
AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
16 Jun 2018
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
AR1: Pascal Gauzere (France)
AR2: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

New Zealand v France
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
16 Jun 2018
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
AR1: John Lacey (Ireland)
AR2: Luke Pearce (England)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

South Africa v England
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa
16 Jun 2018
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
AR1: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
AR2: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zelaand)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Argentina v Wales
16 Jun 2018
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
AR1: Mathieu Raynal (France)
AR2: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Japan v Italy
16 Jun 2018
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
AR1: Nigel Owens (Wales)
AR2: Nic Berry (Australia)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

USA v Scotland
BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, USA
16 Jun 2018
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
AR1: Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
AR2: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)

Canada v Russia
16 Jun 2018
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
AR1: George Clancy (Ireland)
AR2: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

Tonga v Romania
ANZ Stadium, Suva, Fiji
16 Jun 2018
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
AR1: Graham Cooper (Australia)
AR2: Cam Stone (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)

Fiji v Georgia
ANZ Stadium, Suva, Fiji
16 Jun 2018
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
AR1: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
AR2: Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)

Australia v Ireland
Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia
23 Jun 2018
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
AR1: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
AR2: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

New Zealand v France
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand
23 Jun 2018
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
AR1: Angus Gardner (Australia)
AR2: Graham Cooper (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

South Africa v England
DHL Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa
23 Jun 2018
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
AR1: Romain Poite (France)
AR2: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zelaand)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Argentina v Scotland
TBC, Argentina
23 Jun 2018
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
AR1: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
AR2: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Japan v Georgia
23 Jun 2018
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
AR1: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
AR2: Nic Berry (Australia)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

Samoa v Europe 2 (RWCQ)
Apia Park, Apia, Samoa
23 Jun 2018
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
AR1: Matthew Carley (England)
AR2: Cam Stone (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)

Fiji v Tonga
ANZ Stadium, Suva, Fiji
23 Jun 2018
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
AR1: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
AR2: Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)

Canada v USA
23 Jun 2018
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
AR1: Wayne Barnes (England)
AR2: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)